Spĕ'ci-men, n.

n. [Lat., from specere, to look, to behold.] A part, or small portion, of any thing, or number of things, intended to exhibit the kind and quality of the whole, or of what is not exhibited; a sample; as, a specimen of a man's handwriting; a specimen of painting or composition; a specimen of one's art or skill.

Synonyms—Sample; model; pattern.—SPECIMEN, SAMPLE. A specimen is a representative of the class of things to which it belongs; as, a specimen of photography. A sample is a part of the thing itself, designed to show the quality of the whole; as, a sample of sugar or of broadcloth. A cabinet of minerals consists of specimens; if a part be broken off from any one of these specimens, it is a sample of the mineral to which it belongs. “Several persons have exhibited specimens of this art before multitudes of beholders.” Addison. “I design this but for a sample of what I hope more fully to discuss.” Woodward.